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Showing posts with label Cults. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cults. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2021
Cult-or-Commune Thriller a Pretty Ho-Hum Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After the unexpected death of her husband, Laura Evans is struggling to make sense out of everything. She doesn't understand how her cautious spouse could have fallen at the construction site where he was working, especially after hours. She has no idea how she's going to pay the bills while a stalled inquest halts insurance payments. She can barely cope with Tilly, her hostile teenage daughter, who's full of grief and attitude. Losing her husband, her home, and her struggling flower shop leaves Laura with no money, no support, and no future. How will she and Tilly survive?
When she and Tilly are offered a place at a commune-style organics farm in the Welsh countryside called Gorphwysfa (Resting Place), Laura has little choice but to take it. The community's charismatic leader, 27-year-old Alex Draycott, is welcoming and Laura feels herself relaxing for the first time since her husband's death. It's not long, though, before strange things start happening to Laura and Tilly, things that make Laura question whether Gorphwysfa is a dream or a nightmare. Tilly's happy at the commune, but as Laura digs deeper into the place's secrets, she grows more and more alarmed. What is really going on at Gorphwysfa? Are its gates protecting Laura and Tilly from the outside world or are they imprisoning them, barring its inmates from rescue? Will the grief-stricken women ever find healing and peace?
Other than its Welsh setting, there's nothing very original about The Family by Louise Jensen. It's your typical "Is this really a safe, bucolic commune for damaged people or is it a creepy, megalomaniac-led cult that will steal both your money and your soul?" novel. Laura and Tilly are sympathetic characters, but they're not super smart ones. Laura's actions after arriving at Gorphwysfa make little sense. Tilly's decisions are just as dumb, but at least hers can be explained by the ignorance of youth. Although Alex is described as charming, I found him repugnant from the get-go. It makes no sense that all the women are in love with him. Ick. As far as plot goes, the story moves along at a steady pace. While I saw most of the twists coming, a couple took me by surprise. Enough happened in the book to keep me reading, but by the end, I was plowing through just to get it over with, really. In the end, then, I found The Family to be a pretty ho-hum read. I doubt I'll revisit this author.
(Readalikes: Hmmm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Family with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, November 12, 2020
New YA Virus Novel Original and Enjoyable
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ever since her mother sought refuge in the remote religious community of Red Creek, 16-year-old Agnes and her siblings have lived within its protective bounds. Agnes is careful to follow all the rules—she keeps her hair bound, her face unpainted, her eyes on the Lord, and her actions in line with the prophet's teachings. She doesn't question the enigmatic leader, even as his preaching becomes increasingly frenetic. Her one rebellion is going against the prophet's law prohibiting medical intervention. Ezekiel, Agnes' 7-year-old brother, is a Type 1 diabetic. Faith hasn't healed him—he needs frequent doses of insulin or he'll die. Agnes won't let that happen. She secretly barters for his medicine with a woman from the outside, even though it means risking punishment and excommunication.
When Agnes' contact brings disturbing news from the outside about a viral pandemic that's sweeping the nation, Agnes is shocked. The prophet is overjoyed that The End is near; his people will wait the apocalypse out in an underground bunker as planned. Agnes refuses. Desperate to save Ezekiel, she leaves behind everything she's ever known and flees with her brother in tow. As they seek safety anywhere they can find it, Agnes realizes that she has a strange, otherworldly connection to the deadly virus. Is it possible that she, an ordinary young woman with little knowledge of the world, has the power to stop it?
While Agnes at the End of the World, a debut novel by Kelly McWilliams, may sound like just another YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic story, it has a few elements that make it stand out. Most cult stories are brutal in their depictions of religious faith, showing it as something that can only be espoused by the blind and the brainwashed. As Agnes' eyes are opened and she begins to question what she's been taught, she grows into a faith that is meaningful in a more personal way. She comes to understand what she, herself, really believes and knows. To me, her journey feels authentic and I love that a YA book depicts that kind of faith as something that is not just acceptable but also healthy and sustaining. Despite its ruminations on religious devotion, never fear—Agnes at the End of the World is not a Christian novel or even a preachy one. Its religious themes are expertly woven into its larger plot. As a Type 1 diabetic myself, I also appreciate the realistic representation of my disease in this story. It's a condition that isn't addressed a lot in novels and definitely should be. Beyond these unique features, Agnes at the End of the World also offers a cast of likable characters, a fast-paced plot, and a story well told in assured prose. For all these reasons, I very much enjoyed this novel, which kept me burning through the pages eager to find out what was going to happen next.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Line Between and A Single Light, a duology by Tosca Lee, and The Outside and The Hallowed Ones, a duology by Laura Bickle)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, September 03, 2020
Exciting Apocalyptic Novel Timely and Affecting
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After leaving the doomsday cult in which she's been brought up, 22-year-old Wynter Roth is learning how to navigate a strange new world populated with things she's always been taught were evil: television, rock music, skin-bearing clothes, etc. Just as she's beginning to get a handle on things, a strange virus sweeps through the U.S. The disease acts swiftly and causes a terrifying type of early-onset dementia, which leads to confusion, violence, and fear.
Even though Wynter was never a hard-core New Earth believer, she's not entirely surprised to discover the Prophet's revelations about the imminent collapse of society coming true. The End he always raved on about is happening before her eyes. And she's just as helpless as everyone else when it comes to stopping it. Then Wynter's older sister, the Prophet's wife, shows up on Wynter's doorstep. Sick with the virus, she shoves a carrier full of tissue samples into Wynter's hands, begging her to take them to a veterinarian in Colorado. Even though the government is warning people to shelter in place, Wynter knows she has to get the samples to someone who can help eradicate the virus. And she has to do it now.
As Wynter flees Chicago in a desperate race against time, she encounters Chase Miller, an ex-Marine who promises to help her travel across the country. Wynter can't tell him what she has in her possession and Chase is keeping plenty of his own secrets. Can Wynter trust her newfound road trip pal? Can she get the samples to Colorado in time? Can anyone save the population from descending into complete and utter madness?
Although we're in the middle (at the end?) of a global pandemic, I still enjoy reading novels like The Line Between by Tosca Lee. After all, disaster/survival scenarios are way more fun to contemplate in fiction than to experience in real life! I've read loads of these kinds of books and, honestly, The Line Between doesn't bring anything super unique to the table. And yet, it's one of the most memorable apocalyptic novels I've read in some time. Why? Well, it features likable characters, an exciting plot, a timely premise, and solid writing. What's different about it is that it's cleaner and more uplifting than most books of its ilk. Yes, it deals with difficult, disturbing subjects. However, it does so in a way that is thoughtful and faith-promoting without being cheesy or preachy. While The Line Between is technically a Christian novel, it doesn't feel like one. It does ruminate on religious subjects, which—as a person of faith—I found both refreshing and thought-provoking. Statements like this one stayed with me long after I finished the book: "It occurs to me that none of us should have entered these walls. That we have never been 'in but not of the world' here but in another world completely. That this was never faith, but seclusion in a place so safe that faith need never be tested even as we lived our lives of duality" (388). This element of the story may turn non-religious readers off, but I hope it doesn't because The Line Between really is an engrossing, affecting read. I loved it.
(Readalikes: its sequel, A Single Light by Tosca Lee; also reminds me of Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams and The Hallowed Ones and its sequel, The Outside, by Laura Bickle)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, non-graphic references to disturbing subject matter (rape, sexual abuse, forced marriage, etc.), and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Line Between from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, December 20, 2019
YA Cult Novel Poignant and Moving
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although they've grown up together and are the same age, Agnes Little and Honey Harper have very different attitudes about life at Mount Blessing. Agnes follows the rules at their religious commune with exactness, wanting to impress not just God but also Emmanuel, their leader. Honey Harper, the only orphan at Mount Blessing, has no such desire. She despises rules, Emmanuel's strict leadership, and the cloistered life they lead. Honey longs for the things she sees on her forbidden t.v.—chic clothes, fast food, and public school.
When Agnes' grandmother makes a surprise visit to Mount Blessing, she witnesses an alarming practice that no one outside the community is supposed to know about. Already shocked, Nana Pete is even more disturbed when Agnes' little brother sustains a serious injury that Emmanuel refuses to have checked by a medical professional. Not able to take anymore, Nana Pete hustles her two grandkids and Honey into her car and makes a run for it. As the three kids leave behind everything they've ever known, they are forced to forge a new future. Honey may crave the experience, but Agnes is scared to death. Can she make a new life away from her family and community?
Having grown up in a religious commune, Cecilia Galante brings an insider's view to The Patron Saint of Butterflies, her first YA novel. Although the book doesn't bring anything really new or different to the cult escapee genre, it still tells a poignant and compelling story. The main characters are sympathetic; I definitely cared about them and wanted good things to happen for them. Although Galante's portrayal of a community of faith is sensitive in many ways, it makes it clear that violent extremism is absolutely not okay. The touching story teaches some valuable lessons about faith, friendship, and finding your way in a new world. I liked it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale, The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams, Gated by Amy Christine Parker, and The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought an e-copy of The Patron Saint of Butterflies from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, October 01, 2019
Compelling Abduction Novel an Engrossing Debut
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
For as long as she can remember, Anna Montgomery has lived by her mamma's strict rules, even if they don't always make sense. All she knows is that obsessive cleaning, scripture reading, and keeping herself pure from the influences of the outside world are what keep her paranoid, overly protective mamma calm. On her 18th birthday, Anna does something she's never done before—she defies her mother by secretly going to Astroland, an amusement park that has been strictly outlawed by mamma. Even though she's never been there before, Anna's shocked by how familiar the place seems. It's almost as if she's visited Astroland sometime in the past. But, how could that possibly be? When she receives a strange card in the mail on the same day, she becomes convinced that her life is not what it seems to be. Who is Anna, really? What is her "mamma" hiding?
In London, 16-year-old Rosie Archer has grown up in the shadow of her older sister, Emily, who went missing from an American theme park when Emily was a toddler. When she learns that funds in the Find Emily trust are almost gone, Rosie panics. It's been 15 years since her sister's disappearance, with no real leads—if Rosie doesn't keep searching for Emily, who will? The more she discovers from online conspiracy theorists, the more she realizes just how much danger her sister could be in. If she's even still alive ...
Although it's obvious from the get-go who Anna really is, A Girl Named Anna by Lizzy Barber remains a tense, compelling read. An assured debut, it features sympathetic characters, an intriguing plot, and interesting story elements that keep the tale engrossing. In fact, I flew through the book, anxious to know what was going to happen. I can't say that A Girl Named Anna is overly original or memorable, but I enjoyed it and I will definitely keep an eye out for more from the talented Lizzy Barber.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of In Another Life by C.C. Hunter, The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante, The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer, The Safest Lies by Megan Miranda, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder invectives), violence, disturbing subject matter, sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use and underage drinking
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of A Girl Named Anna from the generous folks at MIRA (a division of HarperCollins) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Compelling New Zealand YA Novel a Cult Classic
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Kirby Greenland is used to "parenting" her flighty mother. At 14, she's the one who watches the budget, pays the bills, does the shopping, and handles the laundry. Still, she loves her ditzy guardian and their unconventional but happy life together. That's why Kirby is so stunned when her mom announces she's going to spend two years on a medical service mission in Africa. Starting immediately. Kirby will be moving away from the city and living with Caleb Pilgrim, an uncle she never knew she had. Distraught, Kirby begs her mother not to go. To no avail.
Before she can even process what is happening, Kirby has been swept into the Pilgrims' strict religious cult. Renamed Esther, she is no longer allowed to wear "heathen" clothing, watch television, or read books other than scripture. Worst of all, as week by miserable week passes by, she hears nothing from her mother. Kirby now understands why her mom never talked about her own bleak childhood among The Children of the Faith, but why would she abandon Kirby to the same fate? It makes no sense. Like her mother before her, Kirby wants nothing to do with the strange cult. Is escape possible? She's about to find out ...
I don't know why, but I find cults/cloistered societies absolutely fascinating, so when Stephanie, my go-to girl for all things cultish (in a fictional sense only), recommended I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale, I knew I had to read it. While it's not as immersive as other novels of its ilk, it's vivid enough that the reader can really feel Kirby's confusion, frustration, and helplessness as she tries to make sense of her terrifying new living situation. Kids will relate to those emotions as well as her ensuing identity crisis. They'll cheer as Kirby fights to stay true to herself and find a way to freedom. While I didn't love this book and probably won't continue with the series (there are two more novels set in the same religious community, just with different protagonists), I did find it compelling and thought-provoking. I'd recommend it for teens who are interested in the topic, since it's pointed but not as graphic/disturbing as similar novels.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes, and Gated by Amy Christine Parker)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and references (not graphic) to sex, rape, etc.
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of I Am Not Esther from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Before I Let You Go Heartbreaking And Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lexie Vidler will never forgive herself for leaving her younger sister behind the night she escaped from the Exclusive Brethren's enclave. The cult had ensnared their mother, its leader becoming the girls' stepfather. Tired of the strict, oppressive lifestyle that threatened to take away the educational opportunities she craved, Lexie fled at 16. Unable to take 12-year-old Annie with her, Lexie abandoned her sister. It was a monstrous crime, one Lexie has tried everything to make up for over the last two decades.
At 34, Lexie works as a general practice physician. Engaged to Sam—a kind, handsome surgeon— she's poised to finally achieve the safe, stable life she's been seeking since childhood. Annie's life has gone in the opposite direction. Despite constantly bailing her out, sheltering her, and paying for rehab, Lexie can't force Annie to ditch the drugs to which she's addicted and get her life together. In order to save her own sanity, she's had to step back, keeping her distance from the train wreck that is her baby sister.
In spite of everything, when Lexie receives a frantic middle-of-the-night phone call from Annie, she and Sam rush to her side. Although she's skeletal and still jittery from her last hit, Annie's also pregnant and in danger of going into pre-term labor. Knowing she could be arrested for chemical endangerment and that her baby will no doubt be taken from her, she begs Lexie and Sam not to hospitalize her. With little choice in the matter, the two doctors set in motion a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever.
Available April 3, 2018, Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer is an intimate, heartbreaking novel about a family in crisis. The characters at its center are complex, flawed, and very human. I felt for all the Vidler women, each of whom is sympathetic in her own way. Learning more about Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) made me feel most keenly for the fictional baby in this story who represents all the real children born to drug-addicted mothers. While Rimmer's portrayal of this crisis is realistic, it's also compassionate and hopeful. Even still, Before I Let You Go is not a happy novel. It's a tough, depressing read, one that will touch your heart as surely as it breaks it. Overall, I found it to be absorbing and affecting, an important book that calls attention to a devastating problem that affects an alarming number of innocent children and their families.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, depictions of drug abuse, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Before I Let You Go from the generous folks at Graydon House via those at Little Bird Publicity. Thank you!
Thursday, February 08, 2018
Promising Mystery Series Opener Convinces Me to Read More
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Earl Marcus left Coulee County, Georgia, twenty years ago with no intention of ever going back. Scarred—both physically and emotionally—from growing up in the snake-handling obsessed Church of the Holy Flame, he's cut ties with the "church," his cult leader father, and his haunted past. Now a private investigator in North Carolina, he's compelled to return only when a photograph of his dead father surfaces with a recent time stamp. The man in the picture is no corpse. It appears as if the powerful, legendary R.J. Marcus is still alive. Either that or, as his followers believe, he's come back from the dead. Earl has experienced the mystical power of his father's presence enough to believe almost anything. Thing is, he can't put his own demons to rest until he knows for sure.
R.J. isn't the only person missing in Coulee County. "Rebellious" teenage girls from the Church of the Holy Flame's congregation are also disappearing, only to return changed. The strange marks on their skin could be signs of almost anything. Hoping to find answers before another girl is traumatized, Earl starts digging. Unearthing old secrets doesn't sit well with some people and Earl finds himself in danger once again.
Heaven's Crooked Finger by Hank Early is a debut novel and the first in a promising series. The novel tells a tense, compelling story that's both atmospheric and suspenseful. Although the tale feels a bit flimsy and far-fetched, it's still engrossing. In the end, I didn't love Heaven's Crooked Finger, but I liked it enough to continue with the series.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Reichs' Standalone Thriller Twisty and Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Need no one. Feel nothing.
That's the mantra Sunday "Sunnie" Night has lived by ever since her forced retirement from the Charleston Police Department. Living on isolated Goat Island, she keeps her distance even from her few neighbors. It's only when her foster father, Perry "Beau" Beaumonde, asks a favor that Sunnie even contemplates breaking her strict code of not caring about anyone but herself. A retired cop, Beau urges Sunnie to at least meet with a wealthy grandmother who's willing to pay big for information about her 15-year-old granddaughter, who's been missing ever since the Hebrew school bombing that killed her mother and brother.
Sunnie can't help but identify with the teenage victim, who's described as moody, resentful, and unhappy. Those are emotions with which Sunnie is all too familiar. The fact that Stella Bright may have been kidnapped by members of a dangerous cult also piques Sunnie's interest. Having narrowly escaped that life herself, she knows something about what Stella may be facing.
Determined to find out what happened to the girl, Sunnie enlists the help of her twin brother, Gus. Together, they chase leads across the country, risking their own lives to solve an increasingly puzzling mystery. With danger lurking around every corner, will the two Nights survive their perilous assignment?
Two Nights, a standalone thriller by Kathy Reichs, author of the popular Temperance Brennan series (on which the t.v. series Bones is based), is a fast-paced, exciting story. With lots of action and plenty of twists, it's a difficult-to-put-down page turner. Sunnie is Tempe's opposite; she's tough, unyielding, and flinty. Although she's not as warm or funny as Tempe (a character I happen to adore), Sunnie's a sympathetic character who's easy to like and admire. While Two Nights didn't capture me as much as Reichs' other books have, I still enjoyed this engrossing mystery.
(Readalikes: Um, nothing specific is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Two Nights from the generous folks at Penguin Random House via those at Netgalley. Thank you!
Saturday, February 06, 2016
Haunting Minnow Bly Ultimately A Story About Hope
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
For the last twelve years of her life, 17-year-old Minnow Bly has lived in the Montana wilderness with 100 or so other members of a polygamous cult led by Kevin, their Prophet. Kevinians live by strict rules—no music, no outsiders, no reading for girls, etc.—all of which are violently enforced. No one is more aware of this than Minnow, whose hands were chopped off as a punishment for disobeying her leader.
Hiding a secret that could get her killed, the teen knows she has to leave the Community to save her own life. A fire at the commune offers a perfect escape, especially since the Prophet lies dead in its wake. But, a scared, handless girl wandering around Missoula alone is bound to attract attention. Soon, Minnow finds herself imprisoned in a juvenile detention center for assaulting a stranger. She's offered leniency in exchange for telling the FBI what she knows about Kevin's death, but Minnow refuses to bite. She'd rather rot in juvie than spill her secrets.
The more time Minnow spends at the center under the tutelage of her world-wise cellmate, Angel, the more her world expands. Allowed to study and think for herself for the first time in her life, Minnow begins to realize how much the world has to offer. The more alluring freedom becomes, the more tempted she is to reveal what she knows. But can she risk confiding in the FBI? Or will that be the end of everything for her and everyone she loves?
As you can tell from the plot summary, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes, is not a light, frothy read. Not at all. It's a bleak, heart-wrenching story about the dangers of religious fanaticism and blind faith, and the capacity of human beings to commit acts of both great cruelty and great kindness. Above all, it's about a young woman discovering her own surprising potential. Grim though it may be, in the end, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a novel about hope. Haunting and heartbreaking, it's also a taut, compelling page turner that will stick with you long after you turn the last page. If you're looking for a discussion-worthy pick for your next book club read, you may have just found a worthy contender. I can't say I loved this book, but it definitely kept me reading and thinking.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language and violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Cults + Dystopian Should = A Uniquely Intriguing Read, Right? Yeah, Not So Much.
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Life in the Community is peaceful, serene. Not like the outside world where violence reigns and children—like Layla Hamilton's little sister—can be stolen from their front yards, never to return. The Hamiltons feel privileged to be among the Chosen, one of only 20 families selected by Pioneer (through visions from God) for salvation. Their devoted leader knows the end of the world is nigh; he instructs his people to stockpile food, practice shooting to kill, and keep the Silo—their underground fortress—a secret from anyone outside the Community.
Fifteen-year-old Layla, who's lived under Pioneer's protection for the last 10 years, is content with her cloistered life. Mostly. She's looking forward to the End with more excitement than trepidation. In the meantime, she's thankful to be matched for marriage with her best friend Will. Maybe her heart doesn't skip a beat when he walks in the room, but she feels comfortable with him. Truly, there are worse ways to spend her last days on Earth.
A chance encounter with a boy from the Outside who questions the ways of Pioneer and his Community makes Layla's head spin. She can't believe someone as nice as Cody Crowley could be evil, deserving of an apocalyptic death. And the things he's saying about Pioneer—could they possibly be true? What if he's not receiving divine revelations at all? The more Layla thinks about it, the more disturbed she becomes. With Pioneer's predicted apocalypse right around the corner, she must decide what she believes, where she stands and what to do with the time she has left. At the risk of losing everything that's most important to her. Forever.
I don't know why, but I find cults totally intriguing. That, coupled with my morbid love for dystopian novels, made Gated, a debut novel by Amy Christine Parker, a natural reading choice for me. Even though the premise sounded a little too familiar, I figured the cult aspect would make the story unique. Yeah, not so much. The world of the Community just isn't developed well enough to be believable. Nor is Pioneer himself. He might even be the least dynamic of all the characters in the book. Nothing about him convinced me that he could entice an entire group of people to follow him. As far as plot goes, there's little here that I haven't seen before. What does the novel having going for it, then? Well, it's definitely a quick, exciting read. It's also a clean teen book, which is something of a rarity. Layla's questions also made me think about the differences between selfless leaders and egotistical dictators, prophets and imposters, and faithful following vs. blind obedience. Overall, though, Gated just didn't do a whole lot for me. I wanted to like it a whole lot more than I did. Ah, well, such is my reading life.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams; The Hallowed Ones and The Outside by Laura Bickle; and a bit of The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and intense situations
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, April 15, 2011
Nunes' Hippie Chick Medium Insufferable, But Intriguing
(Image from Indiebound)
waves, shoes, and unorganic food = evil). So, she's not all that surprised when she discovers she can read "imprints," or the memories and strong emotions humans leave behind on treasured objects. Happy imprints, like the ones Autumn feels on the book of poetry her parents wrote for each other, bring her joy. Others are so full of hate, violence and rage that they can bring Autumn to her knees. This ability isn't something she wants, but she knows it can be used for good, if only she can steel herself against its sometimes frightening power.When a grieving couple comes to Autumn, desperate to find their missing daughter, she feels obligated to help. The images she gets off the girl's necklace are confusing, but they seem to point to a commune in the Oregon wilderness. Although it seems the girl went willingly, something about her imprints makes Autumn uneasy. When a third person comes asking about a missing girl, whose disappearance also seems to be linked to Harmony Farm,
Autumn gets imprints so troubling she can't get them out of her mind. She's not one to judge people based on their looks or lifestyles, but she's also not one to let innocent people suffer. Knowing she can't go to the police with only what she sees in her head, Autumn vows to check out the commune herself. Is it the peaceful, idyllic community it claims to be or something much more sinister? Using her special ability, plus her more down-to-Earth detective skills, she's determined to find out.Of course, not everyone's thrilled about Autumn's interest in what could be a dangerous cult. Her twin sister's terrified, especially since she's "seeing" some weird images herself. And Detective Shannon Martin would, of course, prefer that Autumn keep her nose out of his case. Then there's Jake Ryan, Autumn's best friend, who wants to protect her the way he would a little sister - only sisterly feelings are not at all what she wants from him. Add in a crazy Harmony Farmer, a mesmerizing spiritual leader, and a very alluring math-teacher-turned-private-investigator and Autumn Rain's got more problems than she can handle. Oh, and the three-day fast required of new Harmony Farm recruits means she'll be doing it all on an empty stomach - a very dangerous prospect indeed.
Although I didn't like Imprints by Rachel Ann Nunes as much as I wanted to, I did like it a lot more than I expected to. While mediums are plentiful in fiction and the whole cult investigation plot has been done before, Nunes does a few things that sets Imprints apart. First of all, I found the idea of imprints themselves interesting. The concept's not anything new, but I don't remember ever reading about a heroine who purposely surrounds herself with items that exude happy, positive impressions as a way of blocking out negative ones. I also like the twin aspect of the book - the idea of identical sisters having the same type of talents fascinates me. Also, the fact that Autumn's love interest (well, one of them) happens to be a bi-racial man with a learning disability also intrigues me. He doesn't have a lot of personality other than that, but I at least appreciate that he's different from other leading men. On the flip side, Autumn's so purposely different, she becomes a cliche. She behaves exactly as you would expect a Hippie Chick to behave. And while I don't mind me a flower child character, I detest Autumn, who's an insufferable blend of self-righteous and whiny. My disconnect with the main character, plus the existence of some plot points that were unexplained, unrealistic and unfulfilling, explains why I gave Imprints only an average grade. Still, the novel has enough going on to be interesting, enjoyable and even sequel-worthy. I won't be holding my breath for the next Autumn Rain novel, but you better believe I will be checking it out. Eventually.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little bit of The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and The Sight by Judy Blundell)
Grade: C
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence/frightening situations
To the FTC, with love: I bought Imprints from Deseret Book with some of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Unforgettable Escape-From-Polygamy Story Is Not To Be Missed
(Image from Barnes & Noble)With her braids and ankle-length dresses, Kyra Leigh Carlson looks like she just wandered off the set of Little House on the Prairie. And it's not just her clothes that are different - the 13-year-old has never flipped through an issue of Seventeen, never roamed the mall, never experimented with makeup, never texted a friend. She's not like other t
eenagers. She's one of The Chosen. Along with other members of the sect, Kyra lives in an isolated compound surrounded by a high chain-link fence. Although cut off from the world, she's not entirely unhappy. She excels at piano, dotes on her younger sisters, and treasures every moment she spends with her kind, handsome boyfriend. She's surrounded by a large, loving family, which consists of her gentle father, his three wives and their 21 children (with two more on the way). As one of the older kids, Kyra's expected to help cook, clean, tend the garden, watch her younger siblings, and care for her pregnant mother. It's constant work. It's also hands-on training for the fast-approaching day when she will marry and run her own household.
Kyra doesn't dare complain. Not out loud, anyway. Criticism of The Prophet is never allowed. Whatever he says, goes, no questions asked. Everyone knows what happens to those who disobey - the God Squad makes them disappear. So, Kyra keeps her sins to herself. No one knows about her whispered mutterings against The Prophet, no one witnesses her clandestine trips to the mobile library, and only Joshua knows about their stolen kisses. Until Kyra dares to defy The Prophet. Maybe God really does speak to their unyielding leader, but Kyra doesn't care - she's not going to marry her 60-year-old uncle.
Her refusal sparks fury among The Chosen's leaders, but they've dealt with rebellious girls before. There are ways to make them submit. The Prophet speaks for God - and God's commandments will be fulfilled. No matter what. If it requires beating the fire out of young girls until they stumble obediently to their marriage beds, then so be it. If it means forcing teenage boys out of the community to get rid of any competition, it will be done. Even if it means making some people vanish, it's worth it to keep The Chosen compliant.
Even as her mothers cut out the pattern for a wedding dress, Kyra plots her escape. But, how can a 13-year-old evade a force as powerful as the God Squad? Can she survive the many dangers of the surrounding desert? Does she really want to shame her family by running? How can she possibly fit in among the crude, flesh-bearing heathens of the real world, anyway? Is she safer inside her cloistered community? God cursed her with a fierce spirit - will she let it guide her to freedom? Or will she allow the weight of oppression to stomp it right out of her?
Carol Lynch Williams' Whitney Award-winning novel, The Chosen One, tells an escape-from-polygamy story that's both familiar and unique. There's the oppression, the tyranny, and the exploitation we've come to recognize through recent news coverage. However, by giving Kyra a family that cares for her, Williams allows that not all unorthodox situations are as horrifying as they might seem at first glance. She proves that fanatics are not always lunatics - sometimes, they're normal people who have been so browbeaten that they trade blind obedience for independent thought. Still, Williams maintains that no one, least of all a child, should be robbed of their own free will and choice. Even if mandated by "God."
Most of all, The Chosen One is the chilling tale of one girl's fight to live her own life. This "ripped-from-the-headlines" story brings the plights of exploited children everywhere forcefully home. Kyra speaks for them all in a tale that's so compelling it captured my attention from the first sentence, keeping me riveted right up until its last. I read it in one sitting. It was only when I closed the book - then, and only then - that I finally remembered to breathe. Powerful, heartbreaking and absolutely unforgettable, The Chosen One is not to be missed.
(Readalikes: The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff)
Grade: A
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence, tense/suspenseful scenes
To the FTC, with love: I bought this book from Amazon with some of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
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